Petunia×hybrida plant named ‘Kerwhifan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Kerwhifan’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, spreading, and semi-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

-   Variety denomination: ‘Kerwhifan’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Kerwhifan’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cambridge, England during August 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of early and large flowered Petunia varieties.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection designated 02-114-6, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection designated 02-109-5, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Cambridge, England.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2003 at Cambridge, England has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Kerwhifan’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, spreading, and semi-trailing growth         habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Kesupite’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Kesupite’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Kesupite’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have flower throats with         green-colored venation, whereas plants of the cultivar         ‘Kesupite’ have flower throats with purple-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Kerwhifan’. The plants were grown in 8-inch hanging pots with three plants per pot for about 12 weeks in a greenhouse at Cambridge, England.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Kerwhifan’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Kerwhifan’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1995 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 21, 2006 between 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. under natural light conditions in Cambridge, England.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at Cambridge, England in 8-inch hanging pots for 12 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 64° F. to 95° F. (18° C. to 35° C.) during the day and approximately 57° F. to 68° F. (14° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 3,200 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Kerwhifan. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding             selection designated 02-114-6.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia×hybrida breeding selection             designated 02-109-5. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 35             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Spreading,             semi-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.0 cm. Width: Approximately 55.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching; however, one pinch is             required for commercial product. Quantity of main branches             per plant: Approximately 4 to 5.         -   Branch.—Length: Approximately 47.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.9 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color of mature             stem: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Fragrance: Not noticeable. Form:             Simple. Arrangement on non-flowering stem: Alternate.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Slightly undulating. Apex: Acute.             Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature             leaf: Approximately 6.5 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.9 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent.             Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137C with venation             of 137C. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 146B with             venation of 144A. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             137A with venation of 137A. Color of lower surface of mature             foliage: 147B with venation of 144A.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately             2.5 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color upper surface: 144A. Color             lower surface: 144B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Kerwhifan’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days, flowers not persistent. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform. Arrangement: Flowers             face outward; single, axillary. Fragrance: Not noticeable.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong with ruffled apices.             Diameter: Approximately 6.6 mm. Color: 150C to 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 7.2 cm. Flower depth:             Approximately 4.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Roughly             spatulate; the midrib rises away from the throat, then             recurves near the tip; the lamina rises away from the             midrib. Appearance: Dull, smooth texture. Margin: Slightly             undulating. Apex: Acute. Length from tube: Approximately             3.9 cm. Width: Approximately 3.7 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous, slightly rugose. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely pubescent, slightly rugose. Color of upper             surface when first open: 155C to 157D with midveins of 144B.             Color of lower surface when first open: 155A with midveins             of 144C. Color of upper surface when fully open: Whiter than             155C with midveins of 144B. Color of lower surface when             fully open: Whiter than 155C with midveins of 144C.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.2 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Fairly             smooth. Texture of outer surface: Pubescent, somewhat             coarse, and strongly ribbed at veins. Color of inner             surface: 157D with venation of 144A to 144B. Color of outer             surface: 157A to 157C with venation of 144C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Approximately a 25 to             35 degree angle to stem, becoming a 60 to 80 degree angle as             flower ages. Length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.6 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A to             144B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Narrow, irregular oblong, undulating margin. Apex: Blunt.             Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Width: Approximately 5.6 mm.             Texture of upper surface: Pubescent. Texture of lower             surface: Coarse, pubescent. Color of upper surface: 146A.             Color of lower surface: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             partially fused to inside of corolla tube. Anther shape:             Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately 2 to 2.5 mm. Anther             color: 4D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 158B to             158C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             color: 144A to 144B. Style length: Approximately 1.9 cm.             Style color: 145B to 145C. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. -   Weather tolerance: Exceptional resistance to wet weather has been     observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Kerwhifan’, substantially as herein shown and described. 